Senior Essay: Ali Zindman

Being a varsity athlete at Harvard is a unique experience that,
due to its very nature, creates a special bond between all
individuals currently participating, those who participated in the
past and those who will participate in the future. As a member of
the Harvard squash team, my coaches were always sure to instill in
both myself and my teammates that we were a part of a special
legacy; and that while competing we were not only playing for
ourselves and the college but also all former players and
supporters. This sense of unity and connection to history was
something that I had never experienced before. It was made very
apparent, however, upon looking at the pictures on the walls of the
Murr Center and the banners that hung from the courts. Many of the
names adorning those placards were legends within the squash
community, and it was certainly an extraordinary experience to wear
the same jersey and become a part of a tremendous history of
athletes.

Playing squash for Harvard has been one of my most rewarding and
treasured accomplishments. Through Harvard, squash became more than
a sport; rather it became a vehicle through which I was afforded
the opportunity to achieve things that I had never thought
possible. I consider my teammates to be sisters, and I will always
cherish many of the memories that we share, whether from the locker
room, practice or actual competition. I have learned a great deal
about myself, and I attribute this growth to my teammates because
together we have done so many incredible things. This can perhaps
be best exemplified by the team’s service trip to India in my
junior year. I had never been to Asia, and upon being immersed in
the Indian culture, from the cuisine to the clothing to the people,
I was completely out of my comfort zone. Our coach was sure to show
us every aspect of India. The most rewarding experience for me was
our time at the squash center he opened in a village outside of
Chandigarh. I had never been exposed to conditions such as these
before, and at first I was deeply saddened. The children that we
worked with, however, were so enthusiastic and excited to play with
and learn from us. It was truly moving as they proudly showed us
around their village and shared parts of their culture. This trip
exemplifies an opportunity that I would not have been able to share
with my teammates had it not been for Harvard squash. Not only did
the team become closer as we learned to rely on each other in our
new surroundings but also we all grew as individuals from this
truly life changing experience. I believe that it was this
connection and unity that we created on this trip that enabled us
to win the coveted Ivy and national championships that season.

As a senior, it becomes easier to reflect on Harvard as a whole and
contextualize your athletic experience within that framework. Upon
becoming a senior and inheriting the team from the previous class,
a sense of responsibility sets in. Suddenly, a new class of
freshmen will be looking to you for guidance, and the rest of the
team will follow the example you set. I have really enjoyed this
part of my senior season because everything became more meaningful
as I realized that this was the last time I would play squash at
such a high level and the last time I would compete in a Harvard
jersey. Additionally, I began to look at the relationships I had
formed with my fellow seniors. We were all from different
countries, and somehow squash and Harvard brought us together. For
that I will always be grateful because once again I was able to see
that squash was serving as a means through which I was gaining
something far more valuable, namely, incredible friendships with
people I trust implicitly as we watched each other grow and mature.
Therefore, as I think about Harvard, many of the images that come
to mind are connected to athletics in one way or another; whether
the faces of my teammates, our many trips together or just
gathering at the courts. Because of this clear presence, it is
fairly simple for me to say that Harvard squash has been the single
most defining aspect of my Harvard career, and I will always look
back on my time here fondly because of it.